The Outsider (Outsider #1) ✔️

Chapter 125 : Patricina Expansion

Pedro Cristin travelled from Patricina Metalics Inc. factory in Regis for the meeting. He had badgered Susco for the appointment with Dusk Hale. He knew that in the end, they all depended on her to make the final decisions.

Though it was not the first time he was sitting through a meeting with Dusk Hale, Susco and Princess Rosemary, it was the first time he was meeting Princess Scarlet. He was still not clear what her role was in the scheme of things, but it was not his decision on who would attend. He did note, however, that Princess Catherine, was not in the meeting. He had been her fan since she effortlessly solved the VR glove problem for Futurista.

He was halfway through the presentation when Princess Catherine walked in with another teenager, who he had never seen before. She did look a little familiar and he assumed it must be another member of the Royal Family. He asked if he should start again.

Catherine shook her head. She had already gone through the presentation and knew what Pedro was going to say. She had given him many of the numbers anyway. While Susco and Dusk may still be ok with listening to half the presentation again, Rosemary would kill her.

Dawn Hale saw a meeting going on and did not want to go into the conference room. She knew it would be related to work and Dusk would not be happy if she disturbed her. However, Catherine had finally found someone of her own age and did not want to let go of her. She dragged Dawn to the meeting also, telling her that she need not worry, all she needed to do was keep quiet and listen.

The butler and another assistant came quickly behind them and distributed one ice-crush candy to each of the girls and Catherine apologised to Pedro for not having got one for him. She had forgotten to get one for Arora also. She offered the last of her own candies to Arora, who refused immediately.

"What exactly is this dripping thing?" Scarlet asked intrigued while Dusk looked on in horror. They had actually been eating crush-ice-candy? She felt sure it was her sister's idea. She got worried because these things were not good for health.

"They are called srush-iced candies!" Catherine said in a slightly hoarse voice, which worried Dusk even more.

"Eewe! What a disgusting sweet taste! This is pathetic!" Rosemary said, which seemed to make both the teenagers upset. Scarlet liked it. She wondered why they did not have it in Richard Harbour. She felt sad that there was only one available and that too, partly melted.

Dusk, was sucking on her own candy when she suddenly realised that Catherine's voice sounded different. She sat up and asked, "How many crush-ices did you have?"

The two teenagers looked at each other and then Catherine shrugged her shoulders, croaking out, "I don't know. Didn't count... One each?"

Dusk was highly doubtful as she saw a panicking look on Dawn's face. She wondered how Catherine paid for it because all she would have is a bank card. She asked, "Who paid for it?"

Looking more uncertain, Catherine pointed to Dawn. Dusk said, "Scarlet, take her communicator and see how many they ate!"

Dawn reluctantly gave it, expecting trouble. Scarlet checked quickly and said, "Only 1 each I think."

"Are you sure? I have a feeling they had a lot. And it's not good. Spoils your throat."

"Nah," Scarlet replied, "They spent $2.4 for the first one, then another $2.4 for the second one and then $1.8 for the .... Wait, if they got 4 for us, then how did they pay for it?"

Dusk was angry and glared at both the kids. Then she turned to Scarlet, "Princess, what makes you think $2.40 is for one of them? I think they cost about 10 cents each. Now recompute it."